Reproducibility of Performance in Three Types of Training Test in Swimming

Abstract

A variety of testing procedures are used to assess the effects of particular treatments on the training status of athletes. The present study aims to investigate the reproducibility of selected tests in swimming. Sixteen trained swimmers performed three kinds of test: 1) Constant Distance Test (CDT), 2) Constant Time Test (CTT), and 3) Constant Velocity Test (CVT). The analysis of the reproducibility was based on a test-retest procedure. The test-retest performances were highly correlated for the three kinds of test (r = 0.98, 0.98, and 0.93 for CDT, CTT and CVT, respectively). The mean Coefficient of Variation (CV) was computed between test-retest for each subject and each procedure. A repeated measures one-way ANOVA showed that CVT was significantly less reliable (CV = 6.46 +/- 6.24 %) than CDT and CTT (CV = 0.56 +/- 0.6 0 % and 0.63 +/- 0.54 % respectively) (p < 0.001). Psychological factors and a lack of familiarity with CVT (not extensively used during training session) could explain its greater variability. Thus, CDT and CTT seem to be the most reliable tests to detect the smallest meaningful change in the training status of swimmers. Post-hoc power calculations of the experimental design showed the sample size would have to increase to 80, 113, and 228 subjects for CWT, CDT and CPT respectively, to reach a power of 80 %. The minimal detectable differences have to be calculated to ensure a real effect of a particular treatment on a group of swimmers, according to the kind of test used.

A Novel Field Test to Determine Critical Speed

“…hese have traditionally been shown to have poor reliability with coeicients of variation ranging from 15.1 to 25% [7,8] Similar indings have been reported in both cycling [9] and swimming [10]. Hinckson and Hopkins [17] used a variety of approaches to produce estimates of test-retest error of measurement calculated from times to exhaustion.…”

“…Constant speed trials have been shown to have poor reliability with coeicients of variation ranging from 15.1% to 25% [7,8]. his is supported by similar research in both cycling and swimming, which also demonstrated the poor reliability of constant power/speed trials [9,10]. However, research into the reliability of the CS and ARC parameters is limited.…”

Changes in swimming technique during time to exhaustion at freely chosen and controlled stroke rates

“…No timeto-exhaustion tests conducted with these particular constraints had been reported in the literature before, and further studies might help to confirm this range of values. Indeed, variability in the duration of this kind of exercise has been recently reported (Alberty et al, 2006). However, for each time-to-exhaustion test, the mean differences between the two sets were always greater than the variability reported by Alberty et al (2006) -that is, 6.6%.…”

“…Indeed, variability in the duration of this kind of exercise has been recently reported (Alberty et al, 2006). However, for each time-to-exhaustion test, the mean differences between the two sets were always greater than the variability reported by Alberty et al (2006) -that is, 6.6%. Our results thus demonstrate the impact there might be on duration of constant-speed swims when imposing a given stroke rate.…”

Reproducibility of heart rate and rating of perceived exertion values obtained from different incremental treadmill tests

“…Variables used for the training prescription should be highly reproducible to ensure that individual measures are accurate and capable of monitoring training [7]. Conversely, low reproducibility of HR and RPE could result in errors in training zones [8].…”